Dimboola

Dimboola
Dimboola station. This great photo was taken by my son Craig

Tuesday 22 January 2013

Horsham times past

Every now and again, a search brings up something new. Came across a blog called Wimmera... way back when, which has a series of photographs of railway stations from Great Western to Serviceton. Included were a couple of shots of Horsham, one dated in 1957, and another 1971. The following two are originally from John Sargent's 'Country Railway Stations Victoria' series of photo books.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdP-dQKq8FaTIpsr71GRkkrJXDaY_Enbe9nm-Nd_bOlaoBUmypyfMCp2T7iuMCaPB5vFgnY4bzJ-gK-FjUw8f-uXLkM_6-WFL25hK7P1Jda2xIK9edqoB33rwKDuwe6cnaNaHNynE3iFg/s1600/Horsham+1.+%282%29.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn02ZozG3Uhvatv8A0-ScuRz91wMWgskXeslEHGO91R_UzF1bOP-EE8GjIUqxRgSqYXxWD6-HT2dDxvEiBhJVEbL6hrnuqplvgK9waizc2gKm6LKJnEBhoMnZ34awg88OvOfd1OUW9Wvs/s1600/Horsham+3.+%282%29.jpg

Not a great deal had changed over the years, except the loco dock platform had gone by 1971, and loco power had changed. Also, a gum tree has been planted (in the second photo), which is still growing today.  In another ten years, the Freightgate had been built,  and the signal box, plus refreshment service rooms behind had gone.

Thursday 10 January 2013

Out at the Junction

A day off. Decided to head to Mount Barker Junction for some train spotting. Have not been for some time, and after checking the schedules on the ARTC website; there was a PN/Patrick Intermodal due around 12.30. Half and hour later, 5MA3 rolled through. NR 22, XRB 562 and NR 59.

Mount Barker Junction is now a 1500m crossing loop. Unfortunately, you can not see both sets of signals, as from the disused station building, the other set is around a set of curves, but normally you can hear them approach. The dual gauge line, to the right of the first photo, is the old line to Victor Harbor  and Milang. SteamRanger used to operate the occasional train to here during Steam-Up, at the beginning of their operating season, but the line is now unused.



Bringing up the rear, a whole load of Hamburg Sud boxes, and reefers.


Hamburg Sud on NQKY 34619G
Edit: Returned Sunday evening. The ARTC schedule indicated that a Interail intermodal would pass through a 6.56pm.



Certainly not an Interail/QRNational intermodal, but a Pacific National Trailerail, which should have past through at 4.25pm.
Many of these new 48' high-cube boxes, plus a few new 48' curtain sided containers. Unfortunately no photos of these.

PS. It is my understanding that the turnout to the Victor Harbor line was connected when the loop was built, but at some time has been dis-connected, as seen in the photo.


Tuesday 1 January 2013

Auscision's GT46C-ACE

To begin the new year, Auscision Models announced the pending release of their GT46C-ACE (or SCT type) locomotive. No surprise to this bogger, as I was informed a number of years ago, that this model was in development, at about the time Railmotor Models announced they were going to produce the SCT class.
On checking out the web page at Auscision for this models, all liveries are going to be produced, except for the SCT. Suppose we will have to wait to see if Railmotor continues with their model development.
The two liveries of importance for the Adelaide to Melbourne corridor, are of course the QRNational hired LPD units, both in Downer EDI blue, black and white, and QRNational, maroon, black and gold; with all 9 units were introduced in 2009. These locos took over from G class units, and then were replaced/supplemented with the introduction of the 6000 class locomotives.

LPD in EDI/Downer Livery, marked QRNational


LPD in QRNational livery (Auscision Models)





Both these QRNational liveries have run on QRNational intermodal services from Melbourne through to Perth, via Adelaide.

LPD003 LPD001 & CLP13 run through Mt Barker Junction.

LPD004 having arrived at Mawson Lakes from Melbourne, behind a 6000 class